A Refutation Using “Testing Shincheonji’s Claims: Two Lenses, One Story”

Analysis of SCJ Bible Study Lesson 7: “Basics of the Bible Part One”

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Introduction: The Foundation That Shifts Beneath Your Feet

Imagine you’re building a house. A contractor arrives with impressive blueprints, explaining that most builders don’t understand proper foundation work. “The standard building codes are outdated,” he says. “They’re based on human traditions that have corrupted the original architectural principles. But I’ve been trained by someone who received special revelation about how foundations really work.”

He begins teaching you about foundations. Everything sounds authoritative—he quotes building codes, explains the history of construction, demonstrates deep knowledge of structural engineering. He shows you how previous builders made mistakes, how their houses eventually cracked and crumbled because they followed “human traditions” instead of the “true principles.”

His teaching makes sense within his framework. He’s not telling you to abandon foundations—he’s claiming to teach you the real foundation that everyone else has gotten wrong. You feel like you’re finally understanding something fundamental that was always mysterious.

But then he does something subtle. While teaching you about “proper foundations,” he’s actually replacing the solid bedrock beneath your house with something else entirely. He’s not just explaining foundations—he’s changing what “foundation” means. And by the time you realize what’s happening, your entire house is resting on his new foundation, and the original bedrock is nowhere to be found.

When structural engineers express concern, he reassures you: “They’re stuck in the old system. They think they understand foundations, but they’re following corrupted building codes. Your concern means you’re learning the truth.”

This is what happens in SCJ Lesson 7.

The lesson appears to be a solid Bible study about “Basics of the Bible Part One”—teaching students fundamental concepts like covenants, the structure of Scripture, and how God works through His Word. Instructor Nate walks students through the Old and New Covenants, explains the subjects and content of each, and emphasizes the importance of keeping covenant with God. Everything seems orthodox, biblically grounded, and foundational for Christian understanding.

But beneath the surface, something else is happening. The lesson is systematically replacing biblical foundations with an interpretive framework that will eventually support SCJ’s heretical theology. By the time students realize where this teaching is leading, they’ve already accepted the foundations: that understanding requires a “single source of truth” (preparing for Lee Man-hee), that covenant-keeping is conditional and performance-based (undermining grace), that God’s people repeatedly fail to recognize His work (preparing students to accept SCJ despite opposition), and that the pattern of the past will repeat in the present (setting up SCJ as the “new covenant” people).

Lesson 7 is particularly strategic because it sits at a crucial point in the Introductory Level. Students have completed six lessons on parables, symbols, and distinguishing good from evil. Now they’re receiving what appears to be foundational teaching about the Bible itself—its structure, its covenants, and how to understand it. They don’t yet know they’re in Shincheonji. They don’t yet know that this “biblical foundation” will be used to convince them that all of Christianity has broken covenant with God, that SCJ is the “new covenant” people, and that Lee Man-hee is the mediator of this new covenant just as Moses and Jesus were mediators before. They’re learning what they think are biblical basics, unaware that the foundation itself is being replaced beneath their feet.

Let’s examine how this lesson operates on multiple levels simultaneously, using the analytical tools from “Testing Shincheonji’s Claims: Two Lenses, One Story.”

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Part 1: What’s Biblical vs. What’s SCJ—Distinguishing the Layers

The Surface Layer: Legitimate Biblical Teaching

At first glance, Lesson 7 contains solid biblical content:

1. The Bible Contains Covenants The lesson correctly teaches that:

• The Bible contains two major covenants: Old and New Testament
• God made covenants with His people (Psalm 89:3)
• Covenants have subjects, content, timing, and consequences
• The Old Covenant was mediated through Moses (Exodus 19:5-6)
• The New Covenant is through Jesus Christ (Hebrews 8:7-8, 13)

This is orthodox Christian teaching. The Bible is indeed structured around covenants.

2. Covenants Have Conditions and Consequences The lesson correctly teaches that:

• God’s covenants come with conditions (Exodus 19:5: “if you obey me fully”)
• Breaking covenant has consequences (Deuteronomy 28)
• The Israelites broke the Old Covenant (Hosea 6:7)
• God found fault with the people, not the covenant itself (Hebrews 8:7-8)

This is biblically accurate. Covenants do have conditions and consequences.

3. The Old Covenant Was Confirmed by Blood The lesson correctly teaches that:

• The Old Covenant was confirmed by the blood of animals (Exodus 24:4-8)
• This blood was like a signature, confirming the covenant

This is biblical. The Old Covenant was indeed ratified with blood.

4. Jesus Is the Promised Messiah The lesson correctly teaches that:

• The Old Covenant included the promise of a Messiah (Deuteronomy 18:18-23)
• Jesus is that Messiah
• Many did not recognize Him (John 1:11, Acts 13:26-27)

This is orthodox Christian teaching.

This is why the lesson is effective. As Chapter 2 of “Testing Shincheonji’s Claims: Two Lenses, One Story” explains, Shincheonji operates by presenting “Two Realities, Same Story.” The biblical content is real and accurate, but it’s being used to construct an interpretive framework that will later be weaponized to support heretical teachings.

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The Hidden Layer: SCJ’s Interpretive Framework

Beneath the biblical teaching, the lesson is building several theological and psychological frameworks that are uniquely SCJ:

1. The “Single Source of Truth” Framework

The lesson establishes that God works through a single authoritative mediator:

“God had his reasons – he wanted a single authoritative source (a single source of truth) through which to relay his word. If one wanted to know what God says, they needed to go to Moses.”

“God is speaking to Moses here, not directly to the Israelites. This was God’s usual way of operating – he would communicate through Moses when conveying a message to the Israelite people.”

What’s Biblical: God did speak through Moses to the Israelites (Exodus 19-20). Moses was a mediator of the Old Covenant (Galatians 3:19).

What’s SCJ: The lesson is establishing a pattern that will later be applied to claim that God works through a single authoritative source in every era, and that Lee Man-hee is that source for our time.

Biblical Response:

While God did work through specific mediators in the Old Covenant, the New Covenant operates differently:

Under the New Covenant, all believers have direct access to God:

“For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus.” (1 Timothy 2:5)

Notice: One mediator—Jesus Christ. Not Moses for the Old Covenant era, Jesus for His era, and Lee Man-hee for our era. One mediator, period.

“Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings.” (Hebrews 10:19-22)

Under the New Covenant, we have direct access to God through Christ. We don’t need a human mediator.

The Holy Spirit teaches all believers:

“As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in him.” (1 John 2:27)

“But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” (John 14:26)

The New Covenant provides direct knowledge of God:

“This is the covenant I will establish with the people of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, ‘Know the LORD,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest.” (Hebrews 8:10-11)

The New Covenant explicitly says we will not need human teachers to mediate God’s truth because all will know Him directly.

The Progression:

At Lesson 7, students learn:

• God works through a “single source of truth”
• This is God’s “usual way of operating”
• People needed to go to this single source to know what God says

By Intermediate Level, they’ll learn:

• This pattern continues in every era
• The church age had its mediators, but they failed
• Now God has raised up a new “single source of truth”

By Advanced Level, they’ll learn:

• Lee Man-hee is that single source for our time
• Just as people needed to go to Moses, now they need to go to Lee Man-hee
• Questioning Lee Man-hee equals questioning God’s chosen mediator

The foundation is being laid at Lesson 7, but students don’t yet see where it leads.

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2. The “Conditional Covenant” Framework

The lesson emphasizes that God’s blessings are conditional on performance:

“The first thing God says to Moses to tell the people starts with the words ‘Now if…’ This sets up a conditional statement, meaning the blessings are not automatic just for being a follower of God. Instead, the Israelites have to meet the conditions established in the covenant with God in order to receive the blessings.”

“If they do this, then they would be ‘a kingdom of priests and a holy nation’ in God’s eyes.”

“The results of the covenant are that if you keep it, you are blessed, but if you don’t keep it, you are cursed.”

What’s Biblical: The Old Covenant was indeed conditional (Exodus 19:5, Deuteronomy 28). Blessings came from obedience, curses from disobedience.

What’s SCJ: The lesson is establishing a framework of conditional, performance-based relationship with God that will later be applied to the New Covenant, undermining the gospel of grace.

Biblical Response:

While the Old Covenant was conditional, the New Covenant operates on a fundamentally different basis:

The New Covenant is based on grace, not performance:

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)

“For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.” (Romans 6:14)

“But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace.” (Romans 11:6)

The New Covenant cannot be broken by believers:

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39)

“Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5)

“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.” (John 10:27-28)

The New Covenant is guaranteed by Jesus’ perfect obedience:

“Because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.” (Hebrews 7:24-25)

“But now he has obtained a more excellent ministry, and to that degree he is the mediator of a better covenant, which has been enacted through better promises.” (Hebrews 8:6)

The difference between Old and New Covenants:

The Old Covenant said: “If you obey, you’ll be blessed.” The New Covenant says: “Because Christ obeyed, you’re blessed by faith in Him.”

The Old Covenant depended on human performance. The New Covenant depends on Christ’s performance.

The Manipulation:

By emphasizing the conditional nature of covenants without clearly distinguishing between Old and New Covenant operations, the lesson prepares students to accept a performance-based relationship with God. This will later be used to:

• Create anxiety about “keeping covenant” with God
• Make salvation dependent on learning SCJ’s teachings correctly
• Claim that Christians who reject SCJ have “broken covenant” with God
• Present SCJ membership as necessary for “keeping covenant”

This fundamentally undermines the gospel of grace.

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3. The “Pattern of Failure” Framework

The lesson establishes a pattern where God’s people repeatedly fail to recognize His work:

“The people did not perceive Jesus as the Messiah. As it says in John 1:11, ‘He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.’ So what was the reason for this? Why were they not able to receive Jesus?”

“Specifically, the people of Jerusalem and their rulers did not recognize Jesus as the Messiah. Because they failed to recognize him, they persecuted and killed him.”

“Tragically, the very people who were reading these prophecies did not understand that the scriptures spoke of their coming Messiah. So when Jesus arrived, they saw only a radical preacher from Nazareth rather than the fulfillment of prophecy.”

“Even today, after 2,000 years, many are still waiting for the Messiah’s first coming instead of recognizing his arrival and promised return. We as Christians must humbly reflect and ask if we too could fail to correctly interpret prophecy. Careful study is required so we do not repeat the mistakes of the past.”

What’s Biblical: Many Israelites did fail to recognize Jesus as the Messiah (John 1:11, Acts 13:27). This was a tragedy.

What’s SCJ: The lesson is creating a pattern that will later be used to claim that Christians today are repeating this mistake by failing to recognize SCJ’s fulfillment of prophecy.

Biblical Response:

While it’s true that many Israelites failed to recognize Jesus, there are crucial differences between that situation and what SCJ claims:

1. Jesus’ identity was confirmed by multiple witnesses and fulfilled specific prophecies:

“You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me.” (John 5:39)

“Beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.” (Luke 24:27)

Jesus fulfilled specific, verifiable prophecies:

• Born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2, Matthew 2:1)
• Born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 1:23)
• From the line of David (2 Samuel 7:12-13, Matthew 1:1)
• Performed miracles (Isaiah 35:5-6, Matthew 11:4-5)
• Suffered and died (Isaiah 53, Matthew 27)
• Rose from the dead (Psalm 16:10, Acts 2:31)

2. Jesus’ claims were verified by His resurrection:

“He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.” (Romans 4:25)

“And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.” (1 Corinthians 15:14)

The resurrection is the ultimate verification of Jesus’ claims. Lee Man-hee has no such verification.

3. Jesus’ return will be unmistakable:

“For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.” (Matthew 24:27)

“Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and all peoples on earth will mourn because of him.” (Revelation 1:7)

Jesus explicitly taught that His return would be visible to all, not hidden in the events of a specific organization in Korea.

4. Jesus warned against false claims:

“At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you ahead of time. So if anyone tells you, ‘There he is, out in the wilderness,’ do not go out; or, ‘Here he is, in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it.” (Matthew 24:23-26)

The Manipulation:

By creating a “pattern of failure” where God’s people repeatedly miss His work, the lesson prepares students to:

• Fear that they might be missing God’s work today (like the Israelites missed Jesus)
• Accept SCJ’s claims despite opposition from family, church, and Christian leaders
• Interpret opposition as evidence they’re on the right path (like Jesus faced opposition)
• Believe that “careful study” (through SCJ’s program) is necessary to avoid repeating past mistakes

This is a classic manipulation tactic: use a legitimate biblical event (Israelites missing Jesus) to create fear that you might be missing something today, then offer the organization’s teaching as the solution.

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4. The “Pattern Repeats” Framework

The lesson establishes that biblical patterns repeat:

“Do you see the pattern here? If you don’t, history will repeat itself to remind us.”

“We as Christians must humbly reflect and ask if we too could fail to correctly interpret prophecy. Careful study is required so we do not repeat the mistakes of the past.”

What’s Biblical: The Bible does contain patterns and types. Paul says Old Testament events “happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us” (1 Corinthians 10:11).

What’s SCJ: The lesson is establishing that the pattern of covenant-breaking and failure to recognize God’s work will repeat in the church age, preparing students to accept that Christianity has failed and SCJ is God’s new work.

Biblical Response:

While the Bible contains patterns and types, we must be careful about how we apply them:

1. Not all patterns repeat in the same way:

The Old Covenant pattern was:

• God makes covenant → People break covenant → God judges → God promises restoration

But the New Covenant is different:

• God makes covenant through Christ → Christ keeps covenant perfectly → Believers are secure in Christ

The New Covenant doesn’t follow the same pattern as the Old because it’s based on Christ’s performance, not ours.

2. The church is built on Christ’s promise:

“And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.” (Matthew 16:18)

Jesus promised that His church would not fail. If Christianity as a whole has failed (as SCJ claims), then Jesus’ promise failed.

3. The Holy Spirit preserves the church:

“But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” (John 14:26)

“But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth.” (John 16:13)

The Holy Spirit has been guiding the church for 2,000 years. The claim that the entire church has been in darkness for 2,000 years implies the Holy Spirit failed.

4. The faith was “once for all” delivered:

“Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt compelled to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God’s holy people.” (Jude 3)

The phrase “once for all” (Greek: ἅπαξ, hapax) means the faith was delivered completely, not requiring a new covenant or new revelation.

The Manipulation:

By establishing that patterns repeat, the lesson prepares students to accept that:

• Just as Israel broke the Old Covenant, the church has broken the New Covenant
• Just as God raised up Jesus to establish a new covenant, God has raised up Lee Man-hee
• Just as people needed to leave Judaism to follow Jesus, people need to leave Christianity to follow SCJ
• Just as the Israelites failed to recognize Jesus, Christians are failing to recognize Lee Man-hee

This is a false parallel that ignores the fundamental differences between the Old and New Covenants.

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Part 2: The Psychological Mechanisms at Work

How the Lesson Functions as Indoctrination

As Chapter 5 of “Testing Shincheonji’s Claims: Two Lenses, One Story” explores, we can examine this lesson through two lenses: “Investigating Shincheonji’s Divine Blueprint vs. The Cult Playbook.” Let’s look at how Lesson 7 employs sophisticated psychological techniques:

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1. Establishing Authoritative Patterns

The Technique:

The lesson establishes patterns from biblical history that will later be applied to the present:

Pattern 1: Single Source of Truth

• God → Moses → People (Old Covenant)
• God → Jesus → People (New Covenant)
• God → ??? → People (Present)

Pattern 2: Conditional Blessing

• Keep covenant → Blessing
• Break covenant → Curse
• (Applied to present: Keep covenant with SCJ → Blessing; Reject SCJ → Curse)

Pattern 3: Failure to Recognize

• Israelites failed to recognize Jesus
• (Applied to present: Christians are failing to recognize SCJ)

The Psychological Function:

By establishing these patterns as “biblical basics,” the lesson makes later applications seem like natural conclusions rather than novel interpretations. Students think: “I’m just applying the biblical patterns I learned.”

The Problem:

The patterns are being manipulated. The lesson takes legitimate biblical patterns and applies them in ways the Bible doesn’t support, creating false parallels.

Biblical Response:

We must test pattern applications against Scripture:

“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15)

“Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.” (Acts 17:11)

The Bereans tested even apostolic teaching. We must test whether pattern applications are biblically valid.

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2. Creating Fear of Repeating Mistakes

The Technique:

The lesson creates fear that Christians today might repeat the Israelites’ mistake:

“Even today, after 2,000 years, many are still waiting for the Messiah’s first coming instead of recognizing his arrival and promised return. We as Christians must humbly reflect and ask if we too could fail to correctly interpret prophecy. Careful study is required so we do not repeat the mistakes of the past.”

The Psychological Function:

This creates anxiety: “What if I’m missing God’s work like the Israelites missed Jesus?” This anxiety makes students receptive to SCJ’s teaching as the solution.

The Problem:

The fear is based on a false parallel. The situations are not analogous:

• The Israelites had incomplete revelation; we have complete revelation in Christ
• The Israelites didn’t have the Holy Spirit; we do
• Jesus’ first coming was humble; His return will be unmistakable
• Jesus fulfilled specific prophecies; SCJ’s claims don’t match biblical prophecy

Biblical Response:

“For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.” (2 Timothy 1:7)

“There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.” (1 John 4:18)

The gospel creates confidence, not fear. Fear-based motivation is not from God.

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3. Undermining Grace

The Technique:

The lesson emphasizes conditional, performance-based covenant without clearly distinguishing between Old and New Covenant operations:

“The results of the covenant are that if you keep it, you are blessed, but if you don’t keep it, you are cursed.”

“The first thing God says to Moses to tell the people starts with the words ‘Now if…’ This sets up a conditional statement, meaning the blessings are not automatic.”

The Psychological Function:

This creates a performance-based mindset where students feel they must “keep covenant” to receive God’s blessing. This prepares them to accept SCJ’s teaching that salvation requires correct understanding and organizational membership.

The Problem:

This fundamentally undermines the gospel of grace. The New Covenant is not based on our performance but on Christ’s.

Biblical Response:

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)

“But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.” (Romans 3:21-22)

“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1)

The New Covenant is based on grace, not performance. Any teaching that makes salvation conditional on our performance undermines the gospel.

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4. Establishing Need for Mediation

The Technique:

The lesson establishes that God works through a “single source of truth” and that people need to go to this source to know what God says:

“God had his reasons – he wanted a single authoritative source (a single source of truth) through which to relay his word. If one wanted to know what God says, they needed to go to Moses.”

The Psychological Function:

This creates dependency on human mediation for knowing God’s truth. It prepares students to accept that they need SCJ (and ultimately Lee Man-hee) to understand God’s Word.

The Problem:

This contradicts the New Covenant, which provides direct access to God through Christ and the Holy Spirit.

Biblical Response:

“For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus.” (1 Timothy 2:5)

“As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you.” (1 John 2:27)

“This is the covenant I will establish with the people of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts… No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, ‘Know the LORD,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest.” (Hebrews 8:10-11)

The New Covenant explicitly provides direct access to God without human mediators.

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Part 3: The Specific Theological Distortions

Where This Lesson Departs from Biblical Christianity

Let’s examine specific teachings in this lesson that depart from orthodox Christian theology:

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1. The Nature of the New Covenant

What SCJ Teaches (Lesson 7):

The lesson presents the New Covenant as following the same pattern as the Old Covenant:

• Conditional blessing based on performance
• Requiring a human mediator (“single source of truth”)
• Subject to being broken and replaced

The Problem:

This fundamentally misunderstands the New Covenant. While the lesson correctly identifies some differences (the New Covenant is for believers in Jesus, not ethnic Israel), it fails to explain the most crucial differences.

What the Bible Actually Teaches:

The New Covenant is fundamentally different from the Old:

1. The Old Covenant was conditional; the New is unconditional (for believers):

Old Covenant: “If you obey… then you will be my treasured possession” (Exodus 19:5) New Covenant: “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5)

2. The Old Covenant depended on human performance; the New depends on Christ’s performance:

Old Covenant: “All that the LORD has spoken we will do” (Exodus 19:8) – They failed New Covenant: “It is finished” (John 19:30) – Christ succeeded

3. The Old Covenant was external; the New is internal:

Old Covenant: Laws written on stone tablets (Exodus 31:18) New Covenant: “I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts” (Hebrews 8:10)

4. The Old Covenant required repeated sacrifices; the New has one sacrifice:

Old Covenant: “The law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness” (Hebrews 9:22) New Covenant: “But he has appeared once for all at the culmination of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself” (Hebrews 9:26)

5. The Old Covenant had human mediators; the New has one divine mediator:

Old Covenant: Moses mediated between God and Israel New Covenant: “For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 2:5)

6. The Old Covenant could be broken; the New cannot (for believers):

Old Covenant: “They broke my covenant” (Jeremiah 31:32) New Covenant: “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand” (John 10:28)

The New Covenant is called “better” and “eternal”:

“But in fact the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant of which he is mediator is superior to the old one, since the new covenant is established on better promises.” (Hebrews 8:6)

“And for this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.” (Hebrews 9:15)

“May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will.” (Hebrews 13:20-21)

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2. The Role of Mediators

What SCJ Teaches (Lesson 7):

“God had his reasons – he wanted a single authoritative source (a single source of truth) through which to relay his word. If one wanted to know what God says, they needed to go to Moses.”

The Problem:

While this is true of the Old Covenant, the lesson implies this pattern continues, preparing students to accept a human mediator (Lee Man-hee) for the New Covenant era.

What the Bible Actually Teaches:

There is ONE mediator of the New Covenant:

“For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all people.” (1 Timothy 2:5-6)

Notice: One mediator—Jesus Christ. Not a succession of mediators for different eras.

Jesus is the FINAL mediator:

“In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe.” (Hebrews 1:1-2)

God has spoken finally through His Son. There is no additional mediator coming.

Jesus’ mediation is eternal:

“Because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.” (Hebrews 7:24-25)

Jesus’ priesthood is permanent, not temporary awaiting a successor.

All believers have direct access:

“Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings.” (Hebrews 10:19-22)

We have direct access to God through Christ, not through human mediators.

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3. The Possibility of Covenant-Breaking

What SCJ Teaches (Lesson 7):

The lesson emphasizes that:

• The Israelites broke the Old Covenant
• This pattern could repeat with the New Covenant
• Christians today might be breaking covenant like the Israelites did

The Problem:

This creates fear that the New Covenant can be broken and needs to be replaced, preparing students to accept SCJ as the “new covenant” people.

What the Bible Actually Teaches:

The New Covenant cannot be broken by believers:

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39)

“Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5)

“I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.” (John 10:28-29)

The New Covenant is secured by Christ’s work:

“And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all… because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.” (Hebrews 10:10, 14)

God keeps the New Covenant:

Under the Old Covenant, the people had to keep the covenant. Under the New Covenant, God keeps the covenant through Christ.

“The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.” (1 Thessalonians 5:24)

“He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:6)

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Part 4: The Progression of Indoctrination

Where Lesson 7 Fits in the Recruitment Process

Understanding where this lesson appears in SCJ’s curriculum helps us see its strategic function:

Introductory Level (Parables) – Lesson 7:

• Students have completed 6 lessons on parables and symbols
• They’re now receiving “foundational” teaching about the Bible
• They’re investing significant time (2-4 classes per week)
• They still don’t know they’re in Shincheonji
• They haven’t yet been taught SCJ’s core doctrines about Lee Man-hee

The Strategic Function of Lesson 7:

This lesson serves as a theological foundation that will support later heretical teachings:

What students learn at Lesson 7:

1. God works through a “single source of truth” in each era
2. Covenant-keeping is conditional and performance-based
3. God’s people repeatedly fail to recognize His work
4. Biblical patterns repeat in the present
5. Christians today might be repeating the Israelites’ mistakes

How this prepares for later teaching:

By Intermediate Level (Lesson 65+), students will learn:

• Just as Israel broke the Old Covenant, the church has broken the New Covenant
• Just as God raised up Jesus to establish a new covenant, God has raised up Lee Man-hee
• Just as people needed to leave Judaism to follow Jesus, people need to leave Christianity to follow SCJ
• Lee Man-hee is the “single source of truth” for our era

By Advanced Level (Lesson 98+), students will learn:

• Lee Man-hee is the “promised pastor” of Revelation
• He is the mediator of God’s work in this era
• Salvation requires being “sealed” in SCJ
• All other churches are “Babylon” that has broken covenant

The framework from Lesson 7 makes these later teachings seem like the logical conclusion rather than the radical departure from Christianity they actually are.

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Part 5: Red Flags in This Lesson

Warning Signs That Should Prompt Investigation

Even without knowing this is Shincheonji, several elements of this lesson should raise concerns:

1. The “Single Source of Truth” Teaching

“God had his reasons – he wanted a single authoritative source (a single source of truth) through which to relay his word.”

Red Flag: Why is this Bible study emphasizing that God works through a “single source of truth”?

Healthy Christian Teaching:

• Affirms that Jesus is the one mediator (1 Timothy 2:5)
• Teaches that the Holy Spirit guides all believers (John 14:26, 1 John 2:27)
• Values the witness of the church across centuries and cultures
• Doesn’t create dependency on one human source

2. The Performance-Based Covenant Teaching

“The results of the covenant are that if you keep it, you are blessed, but if you don’t keep it, you are cursed.”

Red Flag: Why is this Bible study emphasizing conditional, performance-based blessing without clearly distinguishing between Old and New Covenant operations?

Healthy Christian Teaching:

• Clearly distinguishes between Old and New Covenant
• Emphasizes that the New Covenant is based on grace, not performance
• Teaches security in Christ
• Creates confidence, not anxiety

3. The “Pattern Repeats” Teaching

“Do you see the pattern here? If you don’t, history will repeat itself to remind us.”

“We as Christians must humbly reflect and ask if we too could fail to correctly interpret prophecy.”

Red Flag: Why is this Bible study creating fear that Christians today might be repeating the Israelites’ mistake of missing God’s work?

Healthy Christian Teaching:

• Teaches that Christ’s return will be unmistakable (Matthew 24:27, Revelation 1:7)
• Warns against false claims of Christ’s return (Matthew 24:23-27)
• Creates hope and confidence, not fear
• Trusts the Holy Spirit’s guidance of the church

4. The Incomplete Gospel

The lesson discusses covenants, conditions, and consequences but doesn’t clearly present the gospel of grace. It mentions Jesus as the Messiah but doesn’t explain:

• Justification by faith alone
• The sufficiency of Christ’s sacrifice
• The security of believers in Christ
• The indwelling Holy Spirit
• The assurance of salvation

Red Flag: Why is a Bible study about “Basics of the Bible” not clearly presenting the gospel?

Healthy Christian Teaching:

• Clearly presents the gospel of grace
• Emphasizes justification by faith
• Teaches assurance of salvation
• Celebrates the sufficiency of Christ

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Part 6: For Students Currently in This Study

Questions to Ask Yourself

If you’re currently taking this Bible study, here are some questions to consider:

About the Teaching:

1. Why is this organization emphasizing a “single source of truth”?
   • Does the New Covenant require human mediators?
   • Or does it provide direct access to God through Christ and the Holy Spirit?
2. Why is covenant-keeping presented as conditional and performance-based?
   • Is the New Covenant based on my performance or Christ’s?
   • What does “by grace through faith” mean?
3. Why am I being taught to fear repeating the Israelites’ mistake?
   • Does the Bible teach that Christ’s return will be hidden and require special understanding?
   • Or does it teach that His return will be unmistakable?

About the Framework:

4. Where is this framework leading?
   • If God works through a “single source of truth” in each era, who is that source for our time?
   • If Christians today might be repeating the Israelites’ mistake, what am I being prepared to accept?
5. Is this framework undermining grace?
   • Am I starting to think salvation depends on correct understanding and performance?
   • Am I feeling anxiety about “keeping covenant”?
6. Is this framework creating dependency?
   • Am I starting to feel I need this organization to understand God’s Word?
   • Am I losing confidence in the Holy Spirit’s ability to teach me?

About the Gospel:

7. Have I heard a clear presentation of the gospel?
   • Do I understand justification by faith alone?
   • Do I know that salvation is by grace, not works?
   • Do I have assurance of salvation in Christ?
8. Is my understanding of salvation changing?
   • Am I starting to think salvation depends on organizational membership?
   • Am I starting to think I need to “keep covenant” to be saved?
9. Am I experiencing the fruit of the gospel?
   • Joy, peace, confidence, assurance?
   • Or anxiety, fear, performance pressure, uncertainty?

About Investigation:

10. Am I free to investigate concerns?
    • Can I research this organization online?
    • Can I discuss what I’m learning with my pastor or Christian family?
    • Or do I feel I shouldn’t question?

Biblical Principle:

“Test everything; hold fast what is good.” (1 Thessalonians 5:21)

If this teaching is true, testing it will confirm that truth. If it’s false, testing it will set you free.

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Part 7: For Family and Friends of Students

How to Help Someone in This Study

If someone you love is taking this Bible study, here’s how to help:

1. Understand What’s Happening

Your loved one is being taught a framework that:

• Emphasizes a “single source of truth” (preparing for Lee Man-hee)
• Presents covenant-keeping as conditional and performance-based (undermining grace)
• Creates fear of repeating the Israelites’ mistake (preparing to accept SCJ despite opposition)
• Establishes that patterns repeat (preparing to accept SCJ as the “new covenant” people)

2. Ask Strategic Questions

Rather than attacking the teaching, ask questions that promote critical thinking:

About mediation:

• “Does the New Covenant require human mediators?”
• “What does 1 Timothy 2:5 say about how many mediators there are?”
• “What does Hebrews 8:10-11 say about needing human teachers?”

About grace:

• “Is the New Covenant based on our performance or Christ’s?”
• “What does Ephesians 2:8-9 say about how we’re saved?”
• “Can believers lose their salvation?”

About patterns:

• “Are the Old and New Covenants the same or different?”
• “What does Hebrews 8:6 say about the New Covenant being ‘better’?”
• “If the church has failed, did Jesus’ promise in Matthew 16:18 fail?”

3. Provide Resources Gently

Share resources without pressure:

• “I found this article about covenant theology. Would you be willing to read it?”
• “There’s a website (closerlookinitiative.com/shincheonji-examination) that examines these teachings. Can we look at it together?”
• “I’d love to hear what your pastor thinks about this teaching.”

4. Maintain Relationship

The most important thing is staying connected. SCJ wants to isolate your loved one from everyone who might help them escape. By maintaining relationship, you provide a lifeline when they’re ready to leave.

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Part 8: The Real Biblical Foundation

What the Bible Actually Teaches About Covenants

The lesson presents a framework about covenants that subtly distorts the gospel. Let’s look at what the Bible actually teaches:

The Old Covenant

Purpose:

• To reveal God’s holiness and human sinfulness
• To show that humans cannot keep God’s law perfectly
• To point forward to the need for a Savior

“Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.” (Romans 3:20)

“So the law was our guardian until Christ came that we might be justified by faith.” (Galatians 3:24)

Nature:

• Conditional: “If you obey… then you will be blessed”
• External: Laws written on stone
• Temporary: Until Christ came
• Breakable: The people broke it

The New Covenant

Purpose:

• To provide salvation through Christ’s perfect obedience
• To give the Holy Spirit to all believers
• To create a people who know God directly

“This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, ‘Know the LORD,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest. For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” (Hebrews 8:10-12)

Nature:

• Unconditional (for believers): Based on Christ’s work, not ours
• Internal: Laws written on hearts by the Holy Spirit
• Eternal: “I will never leave you” (Hebrews 13:5)
• Unbreakable (for believers): Secured by Christ’s perfect sacrifice

“But now he has obtained a more excellent ministry, and to that degree he is the mediator of a better covenant, which has been enacted through better promises.” (Hebrews 8:6)

The Gospel

Salvation is by grace through faith:

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)

Believers are secure in Christ:

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39)

We have one mediator:

“For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus.” (1 Timothy 2:5)

We have direct access to God:

“Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus… let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings.” (Hebrews 10:19, 22)

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Conclusion: The Foundation That Doesn’t Shift

Lesson 7 appears to be teaching biblical foundations about covenants. But upon examination, it’s actually replacing the biblical foundation with a framework that will support SCJ’s heretical theology.

SCJ’s Framework:

• God works through a “single source of truth” in each era
• Covenant-keeping is conditional and performance-based
• God’s people repeatedly fail to recognize His work
• Patterns repeat; the church has failed like Israel failed
• A new covenant and new mediator are needed

Biblical Foundation:

• Jesus is the one mediator of the New Covenant
• The New Covenant is based on grace, not performance
• Believers are secure in Christ
• The church is built on Christ’s promise and cannot fail
• No new covenant or mediator is needed or coming

The Question:

Will you build on SCJ’s shifting foundation, or on the solid rock of Christ?

The Choice:

You can continue following SCJ’s framework, believing you’re learning biblical foundations.

Or you can return to the true foundation: Jesus Christ and the gospel of grace.

The Real Foundation:

“For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 3:11)

“Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.” (Ephesians 2:19-20)

The foundation is already laid. It’s Jesus Christ. It doesn’t shift. It doesn’t need to be replaced. It’s solid, eternal, and sufficient.

Truth is solid. Deception shifts.

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Resources for Further Investigation

For detailed examination of Shincheonji’s teachings:

• Visit https://closerlookinitiative.com/shincheonji-examination

For understanding covenant theology:

• Review Chapters 8, 15, and 24-25 of “Testing Shincheonji’s Claims: Two Lenses, One Story”

For biblical teaching on grace and assurance:

• Review Chapters 16, 17, and 23 of “Testing Shincheonji’s Claims: Two Lenses, One Story”

For help leaving or supporting someone who’s leaving:

• See Chapter 28: “Hope and Help—Guidance for Members, Families, Christians, and Seekers”

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Remember: The New Covenant is not conditional on your performance. It’s based on Christ’s perfect work. You are secure in Him.

“For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 3:11)